The father and grandfather of four victims in a fatal January crash near Saskatoon could not hold back his tears after a 49-year-old woman pleaded guilty to impaired driving in their deaths.

Catherine Loye McKay, 49, was charged with four counts of impaired driving causing death after a collision in which four members of the Van De Vorst family were killed.

Catherine McKay, 49, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Saskatoon provincial court to four counts of impaired driving causing death in the Jan. 3 crash. McKay was trying to cross Highway 11 at Wanuskewin Road when she struck a vehicle carrying Jordan Van De Vorst, 34, his wife Chanda, 33, and their two children Kamryn, 5, and Miguire, 2.

The parents died at the scene, while the children died shortly after in hospital.

“It’s not a happy day for anyone, but we are relieved that she has accepted responsibility,” Louis Van De Vorst told reporters.

Van De Vorst said the outpouring of support for his family and the tributes from around the world have been touching. He quickly added that drinking and driving remains a serious issue in Saskatchewan that needs to be addressed.

“We have the worst record of impaired driving and impaired driving causing death in Canada. There has to be some place where society makes a statement about what this does to us, what this does to society,” he said.

McKay’s lawyer, Leslie Sullivan, said outside court that McKay wanted to plead guilty from the outset.

“Ms. McKay has always taken responsibility and I hope that the public appreciates that lawyers still need to do due diligance, review disclosure, prior to taking final instruction,” Sullivan said.

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